- but there's quite a bit wrong with it - as a documentary on one of the 20th century's great minds is concerned. To take this from the BBC's synopsis:

"John Izzard meets with JRR Tolkien at his home, walking with him through the Oxford locations that he loves while hearing the author’s own views about his wildly successful high-fantasy novels. Tolkien shares his love of nature and beer and his admiration for ‘trenchermen’ in this genial and affectionate programme. "

Just one or two nit-picks, to begin with. Tolkien wasn't filmed at home. The pictures of him sitting in front of a table stacked with books were shot at the Oxford Chaplaincy, IIRC (I was told this by a friend, who was one of the students who took part in the fim. She only spoke a few words).

Tolkien himself was not too happy about the film - see Letter no. 301. Rayner Unwin mentions it briefly in his book 'George Allen and Unwin: A Remembrancer'. His opinion is that the fim was cut in such a way that it seems to give equal 'weight' to the opinions of Tolkien, and the students.

As for me - I was very pleased to see pictures of my hero walking and talking; but the film is too much of its time - we don't hear the interviewer's questions! Only the answers; and it seems that whenever a student voices an opinion (say, about food) we cut to Tolkien (apparently) flatly denying what that person had just said, yet (according to my friend) they and Tolkien never met during the making of the film.

Overall, though; and in spite of the inadequacies of the BBC, it's useful to see and hear some of Tolkien's ideas and opinions. Carpenter owes that bit about marking exam papers to this movie; and probably several other things, which I can't remember at present. Hammond and Scull refer to it once or twice in their book 'The JRR Tolkien Companion and Guide'.